Lost cities of the world: photo. Some of the most famous lost cities of ancient civilizations Ancient lost cities
Incredible Facts
For millennia, travelers have told of fabulous lost worlds and the legends of lost kingdoms. Many of these stories survive to this day. The first stories about incredible excursions in unknown kingdoms and civilizations appeared in an era when much was unknown, and everything seemed possible.
From Plato's tales of Atlantis to Mandeville's tales of dog-headed men, the communities that embraced these legends found little reason to doubt their veracity.
Back in the mid-19th century, the lost worlds novels of Jules Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle, Rider Haggard, and H. G. Wells exploded communities, even as it became clear that places where their stories unfolded never existed.
Today, unfortunately, these novels have lost their charm, but our spirit and collective psyche still attract these unseen places, ready to attract new generations to a life full of adventure.
Lost Civilizations
10 Lemuria
Lemuria, or Mu, is a continent said to have been swallowed up by the sea and now lies under the Indian or Pacific Ocean. famous theosophist Madame Blavatsky claimed that the Lemurian ape-like giants had the gift of telepathy.
In a book called The Lost Continent of Mu, one author claimed that all mankind has its origin in Mu, which once stretched from Hawaii to the Easter Islands and Fiji.
Presumably, the civilization was completely destroyed 12,000 years ago as a result of a huge earthquake, and drowned in the sea.
Today, the so-called Stelle group in the US claims to be the descendants of the Lemurians. According to members of this community, after the catastrophe that happened to their civilization, some Lemurians managed to escape, and they began to lead the fate of their own kind.
9. Cibola
In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors explored North America in the hope of finding the legendary seven cities of Cibola, famous for their wealth and splendor. Cibola may have been connected in some way with Aztlana, the land of the seven caves, of which the Aztecs are said to have emigrated to Mexico.
Antonio de Mendoza, Viceroy of New Spain, sent the first expedition to search for the lost cities in 1539 after an established monk claimed to have seen the cities.
In 1540, under the command of Francisco de Coronado, a second expeditionary force was sent. Meeting people Hopi the Spaniards learned that the tribe lived for centuries with hopes for the return of the White Brother, Pagan.
A team of Spaniards explored the entire territory, up to Texas, however, they did not manage to find any of the legendary, golden cities. This legend is very similar to the legend of Eldorado.
Country of Shambhala
8. Shambhala
"Shambhala" is the Sanskrit mystical name for a land located between snowy mountains with a golden city in the center. They looked for him almost everywhere: from the Gobi Desert in Tibet to the Kun Lun mountain in China, but all was in vain.
Some expeditions disappeared without a trace. It is possible that planes have already flown over Shambhala more than once, but, apparently, its borders are carefully guarded and protected from prying eyes.
In 1928, Nicholas Roerich, director of one of Igor Stravinsky's ballets, was told by a lama that Shambhala belongs to another dimension and only those who are spiritually prepared can find it in their minds.
Roerich met the mysterious lama on the Darjeeling-Ghum road in India. Later, other monks told him that the lama who spoke with him was from Shambhala.
Giant lost island found on Atlantic floor7. Agharti
Legends tell us that Agharti is an underground world connected to the four corners of the earth through a complex network of tunnels. The myth that describes a country inhabited by peaceful and kind people who are trying to improve the lives of earthlings seems to be very old.
Even Plato talked about wide tunnels located underground, which are controlled by a wonderful ruler sitting in the center of the Earth. Several centuries later, Pliny spoke of a man who escaped to the dungeon after Atlantis was destroyed.
Some esoteric traditionalists still claim that Agharti does exist. In their opinion, the Atlanteans fled to Asia, where they dug a tunnel under the Himalayas, patiently waiting for the moment when they could return again to rule the world.
6. Hy-Brasil (Hy-Brasil)
Europeans have long had a soft spot for the mythical country, which is said to be somewhere in the impenetrable part of the Western Ocean. An Irish legend tells us of Hy-Brasil, a mist-shrouded island that can only be seen once every seven years.
However, the island was never found. An expedition from Bristol set out several times in the 1480s in search of the legend, but always returned with nothing.
In 1674, a captain named John Nisbet said that he was able to see this island during his journey from Ireland to France. He claimed that the island was inhabited by large black rabbits and a magician who lived in a stone castle.
Lately, however, there has been talk that Hy-Brazil is actually an existing shallow water that is located 200 kilometers west of Ireland.
Lost worlds
5. Lyonesse
As the home of Sir Tristan, one of the legendary knights of King Arthur's Round Table, Lyoness is a country that is said to be close to Cornwall, although the exact location has never been specified.
They say that the state sank in the sea. Lord Tennyson speaks of Lyoness as the site of King Arthur's last battle, in which he was mortally wounded.
Because the legend of the sunken Lyoness is present in both Cornish and Breton mythology, it has been suggested that this myth represents an exceptional example of folk memory and oral history traditions.
It is likely that the story has its roots in the actual flooding of the island of Sicily and Mount Bay, near Pensas.
Today, Lyoness is a deeply rooted history in Cornwall, so tying it to the Sicilian flood seems the most logical move. Around the mainland, the fossilized remains of an ancient forest can still be found, where beech trees are still covered with nuts.
The lost city in Egypt, sunk 1200 years ago, has been recreated4. Cantre "r Gwaelod
This kingdom is the Welsh counterpart of Atlantis. This legendary sunken kingdom is said to have been located in the area between the islands of Ramsey and Bardsley in western Wales.
This kingdom is mentioned in folklore, and in literature, and in songs, and, as expected, it lies under the waters of Cardigan Bay.
The most common myth says that the land was protected from the sea by a dam. However, Prince Seithenyn was a drunkard and a womanizer and did not see to it that the dam was built well. As a result of this negligence, everything was under water.
Although there is no evidence that anything is actually located under the bay, there have been several reports of the discovery of sunken stone remains of human habitation, walls and a dam.
Eldorado: Treasure City
3. Eldorado (El Dorado)
When the Spanish invaded Mexico in the 16th century, they learned of a supposedly existing fairytale city paved with gold, ruled by a priest-king, El Dorado. It was said that his body was covered with golden powder after death.
When Francisco Pizarro invaded Peru, he famously overwhelmed the Inca civilization with a series of murders and deceptions. As a result, he found a certain amount of gold, but this did not bring him happiness, because in 1541 the man was killed.
Even if there are some facts confirming this legend, no actual evidence advocating the actual existence of Eldorado. In subsequent years, this legend took its rightful place in American myths.
A century later, the New World still continued to rob, kill its inhabitants and search for the legendary city. Even today, many believe that mysterious city still exists, and it is believed that there will still be an adventurer who can get to him.
Avalon Island
2 Avalon
Most researchers believe that the word "avalon" comes from the Welsh "afal" ("apple"). This legendary island was the place where King Arthur's sword Excalibur was forged. Moreover, Arthur went there after the Battle of Camlan to recover.
In Welsh and Breton legends, Arthur never died, so someday he will definitely return and appear before his people again. Avalon Island became associated with Glastonbury in 1190 when the abbey of the site claimed to have The remains of King Arthur and his wife were discovered.
In the writings of Gerald of Wales, it was noted that Glastonbury was called the Isle of Avalon in ancient times. Many centuries ago, the area was also called Ynys Gutrin, which in Welsh means "glass island".
Atlantis Island
1. Atlantis
Perhaps the most famous lost city on this list. We all know about the death of Atlantis, which happened overnight 10,000 years ago due to a flood and an earthquake. Some researchers claim that Atlantis really existed.
Allegedly, it was a huge empire, covering part of Africa, Asia, Europe, Northern and South America. Others strongly believe that the surviving Atlanteans built Stonehenge and the pyramids.
According to Plato, Atlantis was ruled by ten kings, the royal palace had hot and cold water, and the largest temple, located in the central part of the island, was erected in the name of Poseidon and Kleito.
Most adherents of the theory of the existence of this island argue that all the evidence can be found on the island of Antilia, and you can see it on the Portuguese maps of the 15th century, because they depict the submerged Atlantis.
Others believe that Plato simply mythologised what actually happened: the historical volcanic eruption of Thera, which destroyed the Minoan culture of Crete. This allegedly served as the true basis for the emergence of the myth of Atlantis.
Since each explorer sticks to his own theories, all that can be done is to carefully study the exciting topic and draw your own conclusions until Atlantis is found.
City of the CaesarsAccording to legend, this legendary city is located somewhere in the south of the South American continent in the region of Patagonia (which is why it is also called the City in Patagonia, as well as the Wandering City). It seems that a bunch of Spaniards who survived after the shipwreck, who discovered a myriad of precious stones and gold in the city, seemed to stumble upon it. But, despite the attempts made to find the City of the Caesars, it is not known that anyone succeeded. Unsuccessful searches only contributed to the fact that the city became more and more overgrown with legends, in particular, they say that it became the habitat of giants and ghosts.
Troy Information about Troy has come down to us thanks to the great poems of Homer, but up to the second half of XIX century it was considered mythical. In the poems, it was described as a well-fortified city in the territory of modern Turkey, standing on a hill near the Scamander River. Favorable geographical position allowed for successful trade, and fertile land contributed to the development of agriculture. Fascinated by the history of the legendary Troy and believing in the reality of the events described by Homer, Heinrich Schliemann conducted excavations in a place that fit the description of the location of Troy, and, indeed, in 1870 discovered the ruins of an ancient rich settlement.
Famous explorer Percy Fossett It is said that this city with a developed network of bridges, roads, luxurious palaces and temples is located in the impenetrable Brazilian jungle. Information about him is based on an ancient manuscript of a Portuguese navigator, in which he said that he had been there in 1753. The famous explorer Percy Fossett organized an expedition in 1925 to search for the city of Z, but none of its participants, including himself, returned alive. A few years ago, the abandoned city of Kuhikugu was found in the Amazon - it is quite possible that it was about him that was mentioned in the manuscript.
Petra This is probably one of the most beautiful lost cities on earth. Petra is located near the Dead Sea, in Jordan. It was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom. Occupying a place at the crossroads of caravan routes, the city prospered, excellent examples of stone architecture were found here, many buildings were cut right into the rocks. After a long period of prosperity, Petra suffered greatly from an earthquake in 365 AD. Gradually, the city began to lose its significance, fall into decay, until it was completely depopulated. In 1812, the majestic buildings of Petra were discovered in the middle of the Arabian Desert, and today up to half a million tourists visit this place every year.
El Dorado The legendary city in the wilds of the South American jungle for many years, like a magnet, attracted expeditions of conquistadors who wanted to get their fabulous riches. One of the most famous attempts to find the mythical Eldorado was made by Gonzalo Pizarro in 1541. His detachment, consisting of 300 Spanish conquistadors and several thousand Indian warriors, searched between the Amazon and the Orinoco. Many seekers of easy money lost their lives in these places as a result of the attack of hostile native tribes, contagious diseases and hunger, and Eldorado remains unfound.
Memphis This ancient city was founded 3100 years before the birth of Christ and for several centuries was the capital of the ancient Egyptian state, until it was pushed into the shadow by Thebes and Alexandria. During the years of the highest development, the population of Memphis reached 30,000 people, and he was considered one of the largest cities of his era. Over time, the city was abandoned and it was not even known where he was. The discovery of the ruins of Memphis was helped by the Egyptian campaign of Napoleon, in which many archaeologists participated. It was then that the buildings and statues of Memphis were first explored by scientists, who learned a lot about the culture of Ancient Egypt thanks to this.
angkor This is the name given to a region in Cambodia, where the mighty Khmer Empire existed in the 9th-15th centuries. At the end of this period, the Khmer state was in decline, and was finally destroyed by the invasion of the enemy army from Thailand in 1431. The capital of the empire was depopulated, numerous Buddhist temples, palaces and streets overgrown with jungle. However, many of the buildings are well preserved, and when archaeologists from France began exploring the abandoned city in the 19th century, they were amazed at its scale. Scientists suggest that about a million people lived in this territory, which makes Angkor the largest pre-industrial city. Here is Angkor Wat, which is considered the largest religious complex in the world.
Pompeii The city was the victim of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 BC. Residents of the city, streets and buildings were buried under a 20-meter layer of ash and stones. In Pompeii, which were the main vacation spot for wealthy Roman citizens, there were many luxurious villas, houses, and unique monuments of art. Only 1700 years later, the ruins were accidentally discovered during the construction of the palace for the King of Naples. A thick layer of ash protected monuments, frescoes and architecture from the destructive effects of natural phenomena, which became an invaluable gift for archaeologists. The discoveries made here made a huge contribution to the study of the life of ancient Roman society and the state.
Atlantis To this day, no reliable evidence of the existence of the mythical Atlantis has been found, but the legend of a powerful sea power suddenly swallowed up by the deep sea still haunts many researchers today. For the first time, Plato mentioned Atlantis in the 4th century BC, describing it as a highly developed civilization that has achieved tremendous success in science and technology. In credibility ancient legend they believed even in fascist Germany, where, in order to search for ancient knowledge, they organized an expedition to Tibet, where the Atlanteans allegedly moved after the disaster.
Machu Picchu One of the most mysterious cities can be called Machu Picchu in Peru. It is located at an altitude of more than two thousand meters, for which it is also called the "city in the sky." Greedy conquistadors did not reach him, and he was not plundered, like other Indian cities. But the inhabitants of Machu Picchu mysteriously disappeared, and the deserted city stood for about 400 years, occasionally visited only by local residents. The rest of the world knew nothing about this amazing monument of Indian culture until 1911, when Hiram Bingham, accompanied by a guide, visited this place. The Inca city itself is not striking in size, probably no more than 1200 people lived in it. But it is impossible not to admire the graceful buildings, towers and temples of Machu Picchu, which were erected by Indian builders several centuries ago.
Various versions are put forward about the purpose of the city: a religious center, the residence of the ruler of the Incas, and others. The geographical position of the settlement clearly indicates that the site was carefully chosen taking into account astronomical data.
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Despite all the information that a person possesses, there are no fewer secrets in the world. On the contrary, with each new solution, more mysteries appear. What, besides the obvious, does the earth store in itself? What can be found underwater?
10. The Sunken City of Gelika
Everyone knows the legend of the lost world of Atlantis. But unlike the popular myth, there is written evidence about the city of Gelika, which helped archaeologists find its location.
The city was located in Achaia, in the north of the Peloponnese. Judging by the mention of Gelika in the Iliad, the city participated in Trojan War. In 373 BC. e. it was destroyed by a powerful earthquake and flood.
Despite the fact that the search for the actual location began at the beginning of the 19th century, the place was found only at the end of the 20th century. In 2001, the ruins of the city in Achaia were discovered, and only in 2012, when a layer of silt and river deposits was removed, it became obvious that this was Gelika.
9. Iram multi-column
There is hardly a person who is at least a little unfamiliar with the myths about this ancient city. Troy, otherwise called Ilion, is a fortified settlement in Asia Minor, which was located on the island of Troad off the coast of the Aegean Sea.
On the hill of Hisarlik (Turkey), during the excavations, traces of 9 fortresses-settlements that existed in different eras were discovered. The 7th layer belongs to the era described in the Iliad. In this era, Troy was a large settlement, surrounded by strong walls and high towers. Excavations in 1988 showed that the population of the city in the Homeric era ranged from 6 to 10 thousand inhabitants, and by the standards of those times, these are quite impressive numbers.
Today, the ruins of the ancient settlement are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
6. The Lost Temple of Musasir
Bas-relief from the palace of Sargon II depicts the destruction of the temple of Musasir
Thanks to advanced remote sensing technology, Australian archaeologists have made a discovery in Cambodia. They discovered an ancient city that is older than the famous temple complex of Angkor Wat.
This city was built 350 years before the construction of Angkor Wat in northwestern Cambodia. It was part of the Hindu-Buddhist Khmer Empire that ruled Southeast Asia from 800 to 1400 CE. e. Research in this area is still ongoing, which means that scientists are waiting for new discoveries.
4. The city of the pyramids Caral
Many are convinced that Egypt, Mesopotamia, China and India are the first civilizations of mankind. However, few people know that at the same time there was a civilization of Norte Chico in Supa, Peru. It is the first known civilization of the Americas. And the sacred city of Caral was its capital.
In 1970, archaeologists found out that the hills, which were originally identified as natural formations, are step pyramids. After 20 years, Karal manifested itself in full.
In 2000, an analysis was made of cane bags that were found during excavations, and the results were stunning. The analysis showed that The caral dates back to the late archaic period - around 3000 BC. e.
3. Urkesh, the lost city of the Hurrians
Mankind has always been interested in the mysteries of past civilizations. Archaeologists went to the most dangerous places in the world to find lost cities that can tell about the past of entire nations. Not the last role in the search for these ancient settlements is played by myths and legends about treasures hidden from human eyes for thousands of years. Such stories inspire not only scientists, but also filmmakers who make adventure films based on ancient legends. Today we decided to create a list of lost cities, both real and cinematic.
Lost cities of the world: what is it?
It is difficult to imagine which legends of the past are entirely fiction, and which are based on real historical facts. After all, most archaeologists, when organizing their expeditions, always draw inspiration and information from fragmentary written sources and numerous myths that are passed down from generation to generation among many peoples.
Many novice researchers are concerned about the question of which settlements can be classified as "lost cities". Finding the exact answer will be quite difficult. Indeed, throughout the history of mankind, a huge number of legends have accumulated about cities that have ever flourished, but for unknown reasons, the inhabitants left their homes and never returned to their original place. In many settlements, even household utensils and all household items remained untouched, which allows archaeologists to assert that the inhabitants left the city in a big hurry. What made them leave all their belongings is unknown. In order to at least slightly reveal the secret of ancient civilizations, scientists spend many years looking for cities, and then for several more years they study all the finds in detail in order to understand how and how the townspeople lived.
Many lost cities are located high in the mountains and at the bottom of the seas, which greatly complicates access to them. But even the danger and fear of losing one's life cannot stop brave archaeologists in their search. It is thanks to such people that we got the opportunity to compile the top 5 lost cities in the world, already found and still remaining in obscurity.
First Place: El Dorado - Lost Treasures of the Indians
The legend of the lost city of El Dorado is known to many people on the planet. Researchers from all over the world have been looking for this mysterious place for several hundred years, but so far the city has not revealed the secrets of its location to any of the adventurers.
According to archaeologists, El Dorado is located deep in the jungles of Mexico, but the exact place where to look for this city is not indicated in any of the legends. But about its inhabitants in the myths is described in some detail. It is believed that the city was built by a highly developed civilization that possessed mysterious technologies that allowed it to perfectly process any surface. Thanks to this, Eldorado had very strong walls and various engineering structures that made life easier for the citizens. The masters of the lost city were famous for their jewelry and gold figurines. According to legend, this metal was the most common in Eldorado - not only jewelry was made from it, but also entire buildings of temple complexes. The walls of such structures were inlaid precious stones incredible sizes and decorated with bizarre figurines.
The legend of Eldorado was perceived by many adventurers as something unreal, until scientists began to find unusual gold items in different parts of the world that could hardly be attributed to any known civilizations. In addition, the processing of these finds was highly technological, which forced archaeologists to draw a parallel between all the treasures found and conclude that they were all made by the same masters.
From about the middle of the sixteenth century, several attempts were made to find El Dorado, but the treasures of the lost city were never found. Modern scientists believe that it is impossible to find this city, since Mexico City was built on its ruins. Indeed, during excavations in the city, archaeologists managed to find one of the most ancient temples of an octagonal shape, which was not characteristic of any of the previously known Indian civilizations.
Runner-up: Atlantis of the Sands
The story of Atlantis is known to absolutely everyone, but few have heard of the city, which was swallowed up by the sands of Arabia and hid under them from human eyes for several millennia. This city is known as Iram, and the legend of it reminds biblical history about Sodom and Gomorrah. The Qur'an says that Iram was quite a rich and popular center of entertainment. The rich people came here, dreaming of spending a few days surrounded by beauties in hot springs, of which there were several dozen on the territory of Iram.
Over time, the inhabitants of the city became mired in sin and immorality, they turned away from Allah, sinking deeper and deeper into a depraved life. In order to save them, a prophet was sent to Iram. He exhorted the Iramites for a long time to return to the true faith, but the people did not listen to the prophet. Then Allah sent a sandstorm to the city, which lasted for a whole week. When the wind calmed down, Iram was completely buried under many meters of sand.
In the nineties of the last century, Nikolai Klapp gathered a group of scientists and went in search of the lost year. By using modern technologies archaeologists managed to find a place in Oman where, according to numerous photographs, ancient trade routes converged. During the excavations, a magnificent fortress appeared on the surface, but later it was destroyed, falling into a karst funnel. The mystery of the lost city remained under the sands of Arabia.
Third Place: Lost City Z
This amazing city, according to scientists, was very developed, it had a lot of engineering structures that make life easier in the jungles of Brazil. Archaeologists believe that there were several temples on the territory of the city, and even a sewerage system was laid.
The most important evidence of the existence of the city is in the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro. The ten pages of the manuscript describe in detail the journey made to the lost city in the middle of the eighteenth century by a Portuguese explorer. Despite the fact that the city itself is described very accurately, its location is not disclosed in the manuscript.
In the first quarter of the last century, a group of researchers set off in the footsteps of the Portuguese in search of the lost city of Z. But none of the members of the group ever returned, moreover, several subsequent expeditions also disappeared in the jungles of Brazil. Until now, the location of the city has not been found, and nothing is known about the fate of the brave archaeologists.
Fourth place: Helik - the metropolis of antiquity
Helik was located on the Peloponnese peninsula in its most seismically dangerous zone. Despite this, the city was really huge, it united twelve cities, which over time literally merged into one territory. The city was located in a very convenient place where trade routes converged, and was the center of trade of the ancient world. It was this fact that later helped archaeologists determine the location of the city, because many references were found about it in written sources.
Scientists believe that in the year 373 BC, Helik was completely destroyed by an earthquake, and later sank under water as a result of a powerful tsunami that came from the Gulf of Corinth. Before that, the city's residents had several signs of an impending disaster, but most of the townspeople did not pay attention to the pillars of fire escaping from the ground and the departure of small animals from the city. Literally in one day, Helik was wiped off the face of the earth along with its inhabitants.
Searches for the lost city have been engaged since the middle of the nineteenth century, but it was found only five years ago. Archaeologists have suggested that the city is not located at the bottom of the Gulf of Corinth, but in the inner lagoon, and for long millennia it was completely covered with silt and sand. The assumption of the scientists turned out to be correct, they managed to locate the city and, having removed the silt deposits, discovered the ancient ruins. Now Helik is being carefully studied, but archaeologists promise to show the world a real sensation over time.
Fifth place: the city of Skara Brae in Scotland
This amazing city belongs to the Neolithic era, it was created around 3,000 BC. But it lasted no more than six hundred years, since the inhabitants of Skara Brae left it for an unknown reason. Over time, the city was completely buried underground, and only in the middle of the nineteenth century, as a result of a storm, scientists were able to see the exposed ruins of an ancient settlement.
Skara Brae still surprises archaeologists with its structures. Despite the age of the buildings, they were made with great engineering fiction. Each of the eight houses found had a large hearth, sewers, and stone cabinets. Surprisingly, each family had its own toilet, but scientists have not been able to establish the purpose of the huge carved balls. The Lost City has not yet revealed all its secrets to researchers.
Adventure movie about the lost city
As we have said, filmmakers are often inspired by mystery stories. As a result, films appear that interpret the events of bygone years in their own way and put forward new versions of the tragedies of the past. Recently in New York, the adventure film "The Lost City of Z" was screened as part of the festival. Brad Pitt became the producer of this film, although it was his candidacy that was originally nominated for the main role.
The success of the film with the audience was stunning, this is associated not only with the excellent acting of the actors, but also with the fact that the script is based on a really real story. The writers created an assumption about the fate of the seekers of the lost city of Z and its real location. The film will be released in Russian distribution at the end of April 2017.
Lost city horror movie
In 2016, a "horror movie" called "The Lost City of Demons" was released. The film has not yet become particularly popular, but still received high praise from critics. The plot is based on a fictional story about a young family who moved to a new city and faced darkness and horror there, which was designed to destroy their unborn baby.
Lost city for kids
Animators also could not ignore the topic of lost cities, so five years ago a wonderful and kind cartoon was created, suitable for family viewing - "Ted Jones and the Lost City". The main character is an ordinary Chicago resident who leads a boring and measured life, but secretly dreams of incredible adventures. Quite by accident, he is confused with a famous archaeologist and sent to the jungle in search of a lost city. To realize his dream, Thad Jones will have to go through many tests that can temper the character of a humble builder.
Until today, it is not known how many lost cities are still waiting for their discoverers, but scientists suggest that of all the secrets they discovered only ten percent. And this means that there will be enough adventures and discoveries for today's generations. After all, everyone can someday find another lost city and go down in history as a great archaeologist.
Since the 18th century, many studies in different countries led to the rediscovery of what we know today as the "lost cities" of the world. The reasons why these cities were lost in time and forgotten for many centuries include the complete abandonment of the city by its inhabitants, climate change, massacres, conquests and natural disasters. Today, many of them are considered among the most famous tourist attractions in the world. Below are twenty-five cities lost in time:
25. Timgad
Timgad, a Roman colonial city located in Algiers, was founded by Emperor Trajan in 100 AD. When attacked by the Vandals in the 5th century and then by the Berbers two centuries later, the flourishing city disappeared from history until it was discovered during excavations in 1881.
24. Mohenjo-Daro
This city was built in 2600 BC in what is today known as Pakistan. It was one of the most ancient urban settlements ever created in the world and is commonly referred to today as the "Indus Valley Civilization City" (Ancient Indus Valley Metropolis). Around 1700 BC, the city disappeared from history until it was rediscovered in the 1920s.
23. Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe, a complex of stone ruins, was built by the Bantu people in the 11th century. At its peak, it had about 18,000 inhabitants, but due to a significant decline in political stability and trade, as well as severe climate change, its inhabitants decided to leave the city.
22. Hatra
Hatra was a huge fortified city that existed during the reign of the Parthian Empire. It successfully withstood several conquests by the Romans due to its height, thick walls and towers. In 241 AD, he fell to the mercy of the Iranian Sassanid Empire (Iranian Sassanid Empire) and was completely destroyed.
21. Sanchi
It took more than a thousand years to build this city. It began in the 3rd century and continued until the 13th century. The city began to decline as Buddhism disappeared from India. This city was rediscovered by a British officer in 1818.
20. Hattusa
This city used to be the capital of the Hittite Empire in the 17th century. By 1200 BC it was destroyed as the Bronze Age collapsed until its 40,000 - 50,000 inhabitants were completely abandoned. Hattusa was rediscovered only at the beginning of the 20th century.
19. Chan Chan
Chan Chan, the largest city in pre-Columbian America, is a huge city with buildings decorated with ornate arabesques. This city was called an adobe city because building material for its buildings there was adobe brick. Built in 850 AD by the Chimu people, the city was conquered by the Inca Empire in 1470 AD.
18. Mesa Verde
The city of Mesa Verde, located in southwestern Colorado, was formerly home to the ancient people of the Anasazi Indians. It was here that this people built their dwellings under an overhanging rock in shallow caves. The inhabitants left the city in 1300 for unknown reasons, but its ruins have remained perfectly preserved to this day.
17. Persepolis
The ancient capital of Persia, this city used to be the ceremonial center and the capital of the Persian Empire. The city was famous for its beauty, and during its peak, some of the most beautiful works of art in the world could be seen here. Persepolis was burned to the ground by Alexander the Great as he sought to conquer the Persian Empire in 331 AD.
16. Leptis Magna
Leptis Magna, one of the most famous cities of the Roman Empire, was once located in what is today known as Libya. It was a wealthy city that served as a center for Mediterranean and Sahara trade. The city began to decline during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus until it fell into complete disrepair in 642 AD.
15. Urgench
This city used to be located on the Amu Darya River in Uzbekistan. It was one of the greatest cities between the 12th and 13th centuries, and even became the capital of Khwaream, in the Central Asian Empire. In 1221, Mongol soldiers turned young women and children into slaves and massacred the rest of the population.
14. Vijayanagara
At its peak, this city was home to approximately 500,000 people. It was one of the largest cities in the world between the 14th and 16th centuries, during the reign of the Vilayanagar Empire. The city was destroyed after the victory of the Muslim armies, which were in a state of enmity with the empire.
13. Calakmul
Calakmul, one of the largest Mayan cities, was a powerful and wealthy city that challenged the rule of Tikal. When it was rediscovered, it was hidden in the jungles of Campeche. The city experienced a decline in population after the battle launched by Tikal in 695 AD, which led to the collapse of the Maya.
12. Palmyra
Palmyra was a wealthy city located between Persia and the Mediterranean ports of Roman Syria. Known as the "city of palm trees", the city began to experience a decline in its trade in 212 AD after the occupation of the Tigris (Tigris) and Euphrates (Euphrates) by the Sassanids. In 634 AD, the city was captured by Muslim Arabs, after which it turned into an oasis village.
11. Ctesiphon
This city existed during the 6th century and was known as one of the largest cities in the world. Because it was one of the most famous cities of ancient Mesopotamia (Mesopotamia), the Roman Empire and later the Byzantine Empire (Byzantine Empire) tried to capture the city until it was captured by the Muslims in 637 AD during the Arab conquests (Islamic conquest).
10. Hvalsi (Hvalsey)
Hwalsi was one of the three largest Viking settlements in Greenland in 985 AD. These were mainly farms that Norwegian farmers who came from Iceland used for settlements. This city had 4000 inhabitants, but this number decreased in the middle of the fourteenth century, after the collapse of the Western Settlement.
9. Ani
Known as one of the most prominent cities in the 5th century, Ani used to be the capital of Armenia in the 10th century. Many churches were built in the city during this period, including some of the most impressive examples of medieval architecture. When a devastating earthquake shook the city in 1319, Ani was abandoned by its inhabitants and remained a forgotten world for centuries.
8. Palenque
In the city of Palenque, located in Mexico, you can see some of the most impressive sculptures and examples of Mayan architecture. As one of the smallest Maya cities, this city existed between AD 600 and 800, however its population declined in the 8th century as it began to become overgrown with forest.
7. Tiwanaku
Tiwanaku is located near the southeastern shore of a lake in Bolivia known as Lake Titicaca. Between 300 BC and 300 AD, this city served as a cosmological center for many people, which made it famous among people who made pilgrimages and its population reached 30,000 people. However, after a drastic climate change, the inhabitants of the city gradually left it.
6. Pompeii
When a nearby volcano erupted on August 24, 79 AD, the city of Pompeii was severely damaged and completely covered in ash and soil. The city was rediscovered in the 18th century after a series of excavations.
5. Teotihuacan
This ancient city, built in the 2nd century BC and located in the Valley of Mexico, has suffered a massive decline in its population since the 6th century. At the moment, the pyramids of this lost city, which was once revered by the Aztecs, are used as a place of pilgrimage.
4. Petra
Petra, the ancient capital of the Nabataea Kingdom, is a huge city located on the side of the Wadi Musa Canyon in southern Jordan. In ancient times, the city was where the ancient Chinese often looked for silk and spices. A series of earthquakes destroyed the city's water management systems, causing its population to leave in the 6th century. It was rediscovered by a Swiss traveler in 1812.
3. Tikal
Tikal existed between 200 and 900 AD and was the largest city of the Maya. Its estimated population was between 100,000 and 200,000, but it lost most of its inhabitants between 830 and 950 AD.
2. Angkor
In this vast temple city located in Cambodia, you can see the remnants of the Khmer Empire, which ruled the area from the 9th to the 15th century. Among the most popular tourist attractions in this famous lost city is the Angkor Wat Temple. Today it is known as the largest religious monument in the world.
1. Machu Picchu
Considered one of the most famous lost cities in the world, this city lay hidden for centuries in the upper Urubamba Valley until it was rediscovered by a Hawaiian historian named Hiram in 1911. Machu Picchu, known as the Lost City of the Incas, is surrounded by agricultural terraces and is completely invisible when viewed from below.